May in Hilton Head, SC: variable for golf — mixed conditions — check the live score. Best tee times: morning before noon for the most comfortable round.
| Average May Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 80°F |
| Avg daily low | 67°F |
| Rainy days | 16 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.2 mph |
May splits the difference between two kinds of golfers in Hilton Head. For the traveling golfer chasing a trip window, it delivers 80°F highs and winds that average 13.2 mph — enough to shape shot selection on the exposed Lowcountry layouts but not enough to ruin a round. Early tee times land in the upper 60s, which is comfortable, though a 13°F daily swing means that by afternoon the heat and humidity are noticeable. For the local regular, May is a month to manage expectations: 16 precipitation days make it the fifth-wettest month of the year, and the rain tends to arrive in quick afternoon cells rather than all-day washouts.
The Variable tier badge on this page is earned. A morning round on a calm day can be close to ideal. That same course on a humid afternoon after a squall is a different experience entirely. Building flexibility into your schedule — whether that means booking a 7 AM slot or leaving a backup day open — matters more in May than it does in April.
Book the earliest available slot — 6 or 7 AM — to beat both the afternoon heat and the convective rain cells that tend to build once temperatures peak. With 16 precipitation days spread across the month, midday and afternoon tee times carry meaningfully higher exposure to weather interruptions than they do in April. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
April is the cleaner month in most respects: six fewer precipitation days and highs 6°F cooler at a more comfortable 74°F. Wind is actually one area where May edges April — May's peak wind of 13.2 mph is 0.9 mph lower than April's 14.1 mph, a small but real advantage. June pushes temperatures another 5°F higher to 85°F and adds four more precipitation days, making May the lesser of two humid evils compared to early summer. If you're choosing between the three, April is the steadiest window; May is a reasonable compromise only if April dates are unavailable.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Hilton Head, SC for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← April in Hilton Head, SC • June in Hilton Head, SC →
May averages 16 precipitation days, making it the fifth-wettest month of the year in Hilton Head. Most rain arrives as short afternoon thunderstorms rather than all-day soaking, so morning tee times have a significantly lower chance of a washout. Courses rarely close entirely, but afternoon rounds risk a delay or shortened 18.
Highs reach 80°F and lows sit around 67°F, so heat is manageable early in the day but can feel draining by mid-afternoon when humidity is factored in. The 13°F daily temperature swing means a 7 AM start plays in genuinely comfortable conditions. June's 85°F highs are noticeably harder, so May is still a reasonable warm-weather window if you time your round well.